Books: Pinocchio in Africa
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6 This eBook was produced by Walter Moore and formatted by James Linden and
James Nugen.
Pinocchio In Africa
By Cherubini
Translated by Angelo Patri
1. Preface
2. Why Pinocchio Did Not Go To School
3. Pinocchio Assists In Welcoming The Circus
4. Pinocchio Among The Wild Animals
5. Pinocchio Makes Friends With The Wild Animals
6. Pinocchio Determines To Go To Africa
7. Pinocchio In Doubt
8. He Bids Good-by To The Animals
9. Pinocchio Does Not Sleep
10. Pinocchio Eats Dates
11. Pinocchio Lands On A Rock
12. The First Night In Africa
13. Pinocchio Is Well Received
14. Pinocchio Is Arrested
15. Pinocchio's Father
16. Pinocchio Sells Drinking Water
17. A Ride On A Dog's Back
18. The Cave
19. The Caravan
20. The Baby Pulls His Nose
21. Pinocchio Travels With The Caravan
22. He Is Offered For Sale
23. The Bird In The Forest
24. His Adventure With A Lion
25. Pinocchio Is Brought Before The King
26. The Monkeys Stone The Marionette
27. Pinocchio Dreams Again
28. Pinocchio Is Carried Away In An Eggshell
29. Pinocchio Escapes Again
30. Pinocchio Is Swallowed By A Crocodile
31. Pinocchio Is Made Emperor
32. His First Night As Emperor
33. He Sends For The Royal Doctor
34. An Old Story
35. His Duties As Emperor
36. Pinocchio Makes His First Address
37. The Emperor Becomes As Black As A Crow
38. The Hippopotamus Hunt
39. The Emperor Surprises His Subjects By His Wisdom
40. Pinocchio Travels Through The Empire
41. Pinocchio Is Placed In A Cage
42. Pinocchio Performs For The Public
43. Pinocchio Breaks The Cage And Makes His Escape
1. Preface
Collodi's "Pinocchio" tells the story of a wooden marionette and of
his efforts to become a real boy. Although he was kindly treated by the
old woodcutter, Geppetto, who had fashioned him out of a piece of
kindling wood, he was continually getting into trouble and disgrace.
Even Fatina, the Fairy with the Blue Hair, could not at once change an
idle, selfish marionette into a studious and reliable boy. His
adventures, including his brief transformation into a donkey, give the
author an opportunity to teach a needed and wholesome lesson without
disagreeable moralizing.
Pinocchio immediately leaped into favor as the hero of Italian
juvenile romance. The wooden marionette became a popular subject for
the artist's pencil and the storyteller's invention. Brought across the
seas, he was welcomed by American children and now appears in a new
volume which sets forth his travels in Africa. The lessons underlying
his fantastic experiences are clear to the youngest readers but are
never allowed to become obtrusive. The amusing illustrations of the
original are fully equaled in the present edition, while the whimsical
nonsense which delights Italian children has been reproduced as closely
as a translation permits.
2. Why Pinocchio Did Not Go To School
ONE morning Pinocchio slipped out of bed before daybreak. He got up
with a great desire to study, a feeling, it must be confessed, which
did not often take hold of him. He dipped his wooden head into the
cool, refreshing water, puffed very hard, dried himself, jumped up and
down to stretch his legs, and in a few moments was seated at his small
worktable.
There was his home work for the day, twelve sums, four pages of
penmanship, and the fable of "The Dog and the Rabbit" to learn by
heart. He began with the fable, reciting it in a loud voice, like the
hero in the play: "'A dog was roaming about the fields, when from
behind a little hill jumped a rabbit, which had been nibbling the
tender grass.'
"Roaming, nibbling. - The teacher says this is beautiful language.
Maybe it is; I have nothing to say about that. Well, one more.
"'A dog was roaming about the fields - when he saw - run out - a
rabbit which - which - ' I don't know it; let's begin again. 'A dog was
running about eating, eating - ' But eating what? Surely he did not eat
grass!
"This fable is very hard; I cannot learn it. Well, I never did have
much luck with dogs and rabbits! Let me try the sums. Eight and seven,
seventeen; and three, nineteen; and six, twenty-three, put don two and
carry three. Nine and three, eleven; and four, fourteen; put down the
whole number - one, four; total, four hundred thirteen.
"Ah! good! very good! I do not wish to boast, but I have always had
a great liking for arithmetic. Now to prove the answer: eight and
sever, sixteen; and three, twenty-one; and six, twenty-four; put down
four - why! it's wrong! Eight and seven, fourteen; and three, nineteen;
and six - wrong again!
"I know what the trouble is; the wind is not in the right quarter
to-day for sums. Perhaps it would be better to take a walk in the
open."
No sooner said than done. Pinocchio went out into the street and
filled his lungs with the fresh morning air."Ah! here, at least, one
can breathe. It is a pity that I am beginning to feel hungry! Strange
how things go wrong sometimes! Take the lessons - " he went on.
Listen! A noise of creaking wheels, of bells ringing, the voices of
people, the cries of animals! Pinocchio stopped short. What could it
all mean?
Down the street came a huge wagon drawn by three big mules. Behind
it was a long train of men and women dressed in the strangest fashion.
Some were on foot, some on horseback, some sat or lay on other wagons
larger and heavier than the first. Two Moors, their scarlet turbans
blazing in the sun, brought up the rear. With spears at rest and with
shields held before them, they rode along, mounted on two snow-white
horses.
Pinocchio stood with his mouth open. Only after the two Moors had
passed did he discover the fact that he had legs, and that these were
following on behind the procession. And he walked, walked, walked,
until the carriages and all the people stopped in the big town square.
A man with a deep voice began to give orders. In a short time there
arose an immense tent, which hid from Pinocchio and the many others who
had gathered in the square all those wonderful wagons, horses, mules,
and strange people.
It may seem odd, but it is a fact that the school bell began to ring
and Pinocchio never heard it!
3. Pinocchio Assists In Welcoming The Circus
THAT day the school bell rang longer and louder perhaps than it was
wont to ring on other days. What of that? From the tent came the loud
clanging of hammers, the sounds of instruments, the neighing of horses,
the roaring of lions and tigers and panthers, the howling of wolves,
the bleating of camels, the screeching of monkeys! Wonderful noises!
Who cared for the school bell? Pinocchio? No, not he.
Suddenly there was a loud command. All was still.
The two Moors raised the tent folds with their spears. Out came a
crowd of men dressed in all sorts of fine clothes, and women in coats
of mail and beautiful cloaks of silk, with splendid diadems on their
heads. They were all mounted upon horses covered with rich trappings of
red and white.
Out they marched, and behind them came a golden carriage drawn by
four white ponies. In it was the big man with the deep voice. There he
sat in the beautiful carriage with his dazzling high hat and his tall
white collar. He wore a black suit with a pair of high boots. As he
rode on he waved his white gloves and bowed right and left. The band
with its trumpets and drums and cymbals struck up a stirring march, and
a parade such as the townsfolk had never seen before passed out among
the crowds that now filled the square.
The marionette could not believe his eyes. He rubbed them to see if
he was really awake. He forgot all about his hunger. What did he care
for that? The wonders of the whole world were before him.
The parade soon reentered the tent. The two Moors, mounted upon
their snow-white horses, again stood at the entrance. Then the
director, the man with the loud voice, came out, hat in hand, and began
to address the people.
4. Pinocchio Among The Wild Animals
"LADIES and gentlemen! kind and gentle people! citizens of a great
town! officers and soldiers! I wish you all peace, health, and
plenty.
"Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, let me make a brief
explanation. I am not here for gain. Far be it from me to think of such
a thing as money. I travel the world over with my menagerie, which is
made up of rare animals brought by me from the heart of Africa. I
perform only in large cities. But to-day one of the monkeys in the
troupe is fallen seriously ill. It is therefore necessary to make a
short stop in order that we may consult with some well-known doctor in
this town.
"Profit, therefore, by this chance, ladies and gentlemen, to see
wonders which you have never seen before, and which you may never see
again. I labor to spread learning, and I work to teach the masses, for
I love the common people. Come forward, and I shall be glad to open my
menagerie to you. Forward, forward, ladies and gentlemen! two small
francs will admit you. Children one franc, yes, only one franc."
Pinocchio, who stood in the front row, and who was ready to take
advantage of the kind invitation, felt a sudden shock on hearing these
last words. He looked at the director in a dazed fashion, as if to say
to him, "What are you talking about? Did you not say that you traveled
around the world for - "
Then, as he saw one of the spectators put down a two-franc piece and
walk inside, he hung his head and suffered in silence.
Having passed two or three minutes in painful thinking, the forlorn
marionette put his hands into his pockets, hoping to find in them a
forgotten coin. He found nothing but a few buttons.
He racked his brains to think of some plan whereby he could get the
money that was needed. He glanced at his clothes, which he would
cheerfully have sold could he have found a buyer. Not knowing what else
to do, he walked around the tent like a wolf prowling about the
sheepfold.
Around and around he went till he found himself near an old wall
which hid him from view. He come nearer the tent and to his joy
discovered a tiny hole in the canvas. Here was his chance! He thrust in
his thin wooden finger, but seized with a sudden fear lest some hungry
lion should see it and bite it off, he hastily tried to pull it out
again. In doing this, somehow "r-r-rip" went the canvas, and there was
a tear a yard wide. Pinocchio shook with fear. But fear or no fear,
there was the hole and beyond - were the wonders of Africa!First an
arm, then his head, and then his whole body went into the cage of wild
animals! He could not see them, but he heard them, and he was filled
with awe. The beasts had seen him. He felt himself grasped at once by
the shoulders and by the end of his nose. Two or three voices shouted
in his ears, "Who goes there?"
"For pity's sake, Mr. Elephant!" said poor Pinocchio.
"There are no elephants here."
"Pardon, Sir Lion."
"There are no lions here."
"Excuse me, Mr. Tiger."
"There are no tigers."
"Mr. Monkey?"
"No Monkeys.
"Men?"
"There are neither men nor women here; there are only Africans from
Africa, who imitate wild beasts for two francs and a half a day."
"But the elephants, where are they?"
"In Africa."
"And the lions?"
"In Africa."
"And the tigers and the monkeys?"
"In Africa. And you, where do you come from? What are you doing in
the cage of the wild beasts? Didn't you see what is written over the
door? NO ONE ALLOWED TO ENTER."
"I cannot read in the dark," replied Pinocchio, trembling from head
to foot; "I am no cat."
At these words everybody began to laugh. Pinocchio felt a little
encouraged and murmured to himself, "They seem to be kind people, these
wild beasts."
He wanted to say something pleasant to them, but just then the
director of the company began to shout at the top of his voice.
5. Pinocchio Makes Friends With The Wild Animals
COME forward, come forward, ladies and gentlemen! The cost is small
and the pleasure is great. The show will last an hour, only one hour.
Come forward! See the battle between the terrible lion Zumbo and his
wife, the ferocious lioness Zumba. Behold the tiger that wrestles with
the polar bear, and the elephant that lifts the whole weight of the
tent with his powerful trunk. See the animals feed. Ladies and
gentlemen, come forward! Only two francs!"
At these words the men in the cages of the wild animals put horns,
sea shells, and whistles to their mouths, and the next moment there
came wild roarings and howls and shrieks. It was enough to make one
shudder with fear.
Again the director raised his voice: "Come forward, come forward,
ladies and gentlemen! two francs; children only one franc."
The music started: Boom! Boom! Boom! Par-ap'-ap'-pa! Boom! Boom!
Boom! Par-ap'ap'ap'pa!parap'ap'ap'pa!
One surprise seemed to follow another. Pinocchio longed to enjoy the
sights, but how was he to get out of the cage? At length, taking his
courage in both hands, he said politely, "Excuse me, gentlemen, but if
you have no commands to give me - "
"Not a command!" roughly answered the bearded man who played the
lion. "If you do not go away quickly, I will have you eaten up by that
large ape behind you."
"But I should be hard to digest," said the marionette.
"Boy, be careful how you talk," exclaimed the same voice.
"I said that your ape would have indigestion if he ate me," replied
Pinocchio. "Do you think that I am joking? No, I am in earnest. He
really would. I came in here by chance while returning from a walk,
and if you will permit me, I will go home to my father who is waiting
for me. As you have no orders to give me, many thanks, good-by, and
good luck to you."
"Listen, boy," said the large man who took the part of the elephant;
"I am very thirsty, and I will give you a fine new penny if you will
fill this bucket at the fountain and bring it to me."
"What!" replied Pinocchio, greatly offended; "I am no servant!
However this time, merely to please you, I will go." And crawling
through the hole by which he had entered, he went out to the fountain
and returned in a very short time with the bucket full of water.
"Good boy, good marionette!" said the men as they passed the bucket
from one to another.
Pinocchio was happy. Never had he felt so happy as at that moment.
"What good people!" he said to himself. "I would gladly stay with
them." In the meantime the bucket was emptied, and there were still
some who had not had a drink. "I will go and refill it," said the
marionette promptly. And without waiting to be asked, he took the
bucket and flew to the fountain.
When he returned they flattered him so cleverly with praise and
thanks that a strong friendship sprang up between Pinocchio and the
wild beasts.
Being a woodenhead he forgot about his father and did not go away as
he had intended to do. In fact, he was curious to know something of the
history of these people, who were forced to play at being wild
animals.
After a moment's silence he turned to the one who had asked him to
go for the water and said, "You are from Africa?"
"Yes, I am an African, and all my companions are African."
"How interesting! but pardon me, is Africa a beautiful country?"
"I should say so! A country, my dear boy, full of plenty, where
everything is given away free! A country in which at any moment the
strangest things may happen. A servant may become a master; a plain
citizen may become a king. There are trees, taller than church
steeples, with branches touching the ground, so that one may gather
sweet fruit without the least trouble. My boy, Africa is a country full
of enchanted forests, where the game allows itself to be killed,
quartered, and hung; where riches - "
No one knows how far this description would have gone, if at that
moment the voice of the director had not been heard. The music had
stopped, and the director was talking to the people, who did not seem
very willing to part with their money.
6. Pinocchio Determines To Go To Africa
PINOCCHIO had already resolved to go to Africa to eat of the fruit
and to gather riches. He was eager to learn more, and impatient of
interruption.
"And the director is an African also?"
"Certainly he is an African."
"And is he very rich?"
"Is he rich? Take my word for it that if he would, he could buy up
this whole country."
Pinocchio was struck dumb. Still he wanted to make the men believe
that what he had heard was not altogether new to him. "Oh, I know that
Africa is a very beautiful country, and I have often planned to go
there, and - if I were sure that it would not be too much trouble I
would willingly go with you."
"With us? We are not going to Africa."
"What a pity! I thought I could make the journey in your company."
"Are you in earnest?" asked the bearded man. "Do you believe that
there is any Africa outside this tent?"
"Tent or no tent, I have decided to go to Africa, and I shall go,"
boldly replied the marionette.
"I like that youngster," said the man who played the part of a
crocodile. "That boy will make his fortune someday."
"Of course I shall!" continued Pinocchio. "I ought to have fifty
thousand francs, because I must get a new jacket for my father, who
sold his old one to buy me a spelling book. If there is so much gold
and silver in Africa, I will fill up a thousand vessels. Is it true
that there is a great deal of gold and silver?"
"Did we not tell you so?" replied another voice. "Why, if I had not
lost all that I had put in my pockets before leaving Africa, by this
time I should have become a prince. And now were it not for the fact
that I have promised to stay with these people, to be a panther at two
francs and a half a day, I would gladly go along with you."
"Thank you; thank you for your good intentions," answered the
marionette. "In case you decide to go with me, I start to-morrow
morning at dawn."
"On what steamship?"
"What did you say?" asked Pinocchio.
"On what steamship do you sail?"
"Sail! I am going on foot."
At these words everybody laughed.
"There is little to laugh at, my dear people. If you knew how many
miles I have traveled on these legs by day and by night, over land and
sea, you would not laugh. What! do you think Fairyland, the country of
the Blockheads, and the Island of the Bees are reached in a single
stride? I go to Africa, and I go on foot."
"But it is necessary to cross the Mediterranean Sea."
"It will be crossed."
"On foot?"
"Either on foot or on horseback, it matters little. But pardon me,
after crossing the Mediterranean Sea, do you reach Africa?"
"Certainly, unless you wish to go by way of the Red Sea."
"The Red Sea? No, truly!"
"Perhaps the route over the Red Sea would be better."
"I do not wish to go near the Red Sea."
"And why?" asked the wolf man, who up to this time had not opened
his mouth.
"Why? Why? Because I do not wish to get my clothes dyed; do you
understand?"
More laughter greeted these words. Pinocchio's wooden cheeks got
very red, and he sputtered: "This is no way to treat a gentleman. I
shall do as I please, and I do not please to enter the Red Sea. That is
enough. Now I shall leave you, and he started off.
"Farewell, farewell, marionette!"
"Farewell, you impolite beasts!" Pinocchio wanted to call out, but
he did not.
"Come back!" cried the bearded man; "here is the bucket; please fill
it once more, for I am still thirsty."
7. Pinocchio In Doubt
PINOCCHIO went away very angry, vowing that he would avenge himself
on all who had laughed at him.
"To begin with," said he, "I intend to make them all die of thirst.
If they wait to drink of the water that I bring, they will certainly
die." With these thoughts in his mind the marionette started homeward,
carrying the bucket on his head.
"The bucket will repay me for all the work I have had put upon me.
How unlucky we children are! Wherever we go, there is always something
for us to do. To-day I thought I would simply enjoy myself; instead, I
have had to carry water for a company of strangers. How absurd! two
trips, one after the other, to give drink to people I do not know! And
how they drink! they seem to be sponges. For my part they can be
thirsty as long as they like. I feel now as if I would never again move
a finger for them. I am not going to be laughed at."
As he finished these remarks Pinocchio arrived at the fountain. It
was delightful to see the clear water rushing out, but he could not
help thinking of those poor creatures who were waiting for him. He had
to stop.
"Shall I or shall I not?" he asked himself. "After all, they are
good people, who are forced to imitate wild animals; and besides, they
have treated me with some kindness. I may as well carry some water to
them; a trip more or less makes no difference to me."
He approached the fountain, filled the bucket, and ran down the
road.
"Hello within there!" he said in a low voice. "Here is the bucket of
water; come and take it, for I am not going in."
"Good marionette," said the beasts, "thank you!"
"Don't mention it," replied Pinocchio, very happy.
"Why will you not come in?"
"It is impossible, thank you. I must go to school."
"Then you are not going to Africa?"
"Who told you that! I am returning to school to bid farewell to my
teacher, and to ask him to excuse me for a few days. Then I wish to see
my father and ask his permission to go, so that he will not be anxious
while I am away."
"Excellent marionette, you will become famous."
"What agreeable people!" thought Pinocchio. "I am sorry to leave
them."
"So you really will not come in?"
"No, I have said so before. I must go to school first, and then - "
"But it seems to me rather late for school," said the crocodile
man.
"That is true; it is too late for school," replied Pinocchio.
"Well, then, stay a little longer with us, and later you can go home
to your father."
Pinocchio thrust his head through the hole and leaped into the tent.
The naughty marionette had not the least desire to go to school, and
was only too glad of an excuse to watch these strange people.
8. He Bids Good-by To The Animals
THE show had begun. The director was explaining to the people the
wonders of his menagerie.
"Ladies and gentlemen, observe the beauty and the wildness of all
these animals, which I have brought from Central Africa. Here they are,
inclosed in these many cages, but hidden from your view. Why are they
hidden? Because, ladies and gentlemen, you would be frightened at the
sight of them, and your peace and health greatly concern me. The first
animal which I have the pleasure to present to you is the elephant.
Observe, ladies and gentlemen, that small affair which hangs under his
nose. With that he builds houses, tills the soil, writes letters,
carries trunks, and picks flowers. You can see that the animal was
painted from life and placed in this beautiful frame."
The people began to look at one another.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen, let us go on to the next one."
A roar of laughter and jeers arose on all sides. The director saw
the unfortunate state of things and began to shout: "Have respect,
ladies, for the poor sick monkey I told you of. At this moment she is
pressing to her breast for the last time her friendless child."
But not even this was sufficient to calm the crowd, which presently
became an infuriated mob. Men and women rushed about the tent, making
fierce gestures and heaping abuse upon the director. What an uproar!
In the cage where Pinocchio was, there was no confusion, and the
conversation between the marionette and the wild beasts went on without
stopping.
"When do you leave for Africa?" Pinocchio was asked.
"Have I not told you? To-morrow morning at daybreak, even if it
rains."
"Excellent! But you must carry with you several things which you may
need."
"And those are - ?"
"First of all you will need plenty of money."
"That is not lacking," said Pinocchio in his usual airy way.
"Good! Then you should get a rifle."
"What for?"
"To defend yourself against the wild animals."
"Come, come! You don't want me to believe that! I have seen what the
wild animals of Africa are!"
"Be careful, marionette. Take a good rifle with you, for one never
knows what will happen in Africa."
"But I do not know how to load one."
"Well, then, stay at home. It is folly for you to begin such an
undertaking without arms and without knowing how to use them."
"It is you who are foolish. Do not make me angry. When I have
decided upon a thing no one can stop me from carrying it out."
"Take care, marionette; you may be sorry."
"Nevertheless I shall go."
"You may find things very unpleasant."
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